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As he thought about this, King Duan, Lin Xingjue quickly followed behind the Sacred Lord, Lin Mubai. He felt that he should relieve some of his father’s burdens.

However, today was Ping Yang’s birthday banquet. Discussing the palace politics here would be quite distasteful.

King Duan understood this, therefore, he suppressed his thoughts but his smile grew even greater instead.

...

No one else continued trying to chase down what transpired in the living quarters between Ping Yang and Fang Zhengzhi. With the arrival the Sacred Lord, Ping Yang’s banquet officially began.

The Crown Prince, Lin Tian Rong personally invited Chi Guyan to join them at the VIP seats. However, Chi Guyan kindly and respectfully rejected and sat beside Fang Zhengzhi instead.

Seeing this scene, the Sacred Lord did not show any expression.

Obviously, he was merely tolerating this.

The Crown Prince did not mind at all. He simply said something along the lines of "Today is Ping Yang’s birthday and you two are practically sisters since childhood". After that, he set himself down beside the Sacred Lord.

Fang Zhengzhi observed this and realised why Chi Guyan decided to enter Heaven Dao Pavillion a year ago. Matters in the palace was filled with nitpicking procedures.

Attention must be paid to even the matter of a mere seating arrangement.

Fang Zhengzhi felt that he should not become an official. In fact, he did not want to become an official. He was not afraid of clashing heads with others, but felt that that required too much effort.

If he must choose...

He would definitely choose a more relaxed posting.

"Come, I shall use Ping Yang’s birthday to raise a toast to my beloved subjects!" Under the leadership of the Sacred Lord, all the officials and nobles raised their cups to celebrate Ping Yang’s birthday.

After three rounds of toasts, some of the nobles had loose energy spare and suggested some entertainment to complement celebrations such as recitation of poetry and exchanging couplets.

After all, a chance to exhibit their talents in front of the Sacred Lord comes only once in a blue moon.

The foundation for the establishment of the Great Xia Dynasty was the "Law of Dao". After the control of the Dao of All Creation came the flourishment of the dynasty. To witness the resulting talents that bloom from this flourishment was of no objection to the Sacred Lord.

After this, a few of the nobles started to churn out their poetry or couplets

Fang Zhengzhi had no interest in such subjects. He always felt that reciting poetry and exchanging couplets were too insubstantial in terms of skills required. Especially the exchange of couplets. He reckoned that if he just copied down some of the great classics, it would be enough to scare them into the ground.

Therefore, his attention was instead placed on Chi Guyan.

Today, Chi Guyan was gorgeous as usual. Her pale skin softly gleamed like a jade, with a light scent emanating from her.

However...

This was not what grabbed his attention.

Fang Zhengzhi’s focus was on what was in her hands. The pair of slender and pale hands were untainted and currently holding a pure silver tripod wine cup.

Chi Guyan was drinking.

Most importantly, she was chugging it down. Cup after cup went down without a hitch.

Fang Zhengzhi’s lips curled

He had never seen Chi Guyan drink. At least, he did not see her drink at the banquet at the Divine Constabulary previously.

That was not important. What was important was that he decided to wait for Chi Guyan drink till her cheeks were red, wobbly on her feet. Then, immediately after that when her guard was down, issue a challenge to her.

When that time comes in front of so many guests, Chi Guyan would be too embarrassed not to take it right

Although this was quite despicable, he would be able to wipe the floor with her in front of the Sacred Lord, Crown Prince, King Duan, the princes and other guests.

He was excited just thinking about it.

Hence, he started the wait...

When Chi Guyan was already on her twentieth cup, Fang Zhengzhi still did not see even a single hint of intoxication. Her stunning face did not colour a single shade of red, it was still glowing and smooth like a jade.

Fang Zhengzhi was disappointed.

Did a lady really need to hold her liquor this well? The men would not stand a chance.

Chi Guyan suddenly realised Fang Zhengzhi’s weird expression. Her starry orbs hid a flash of something.

"Want to compete with me?"

"I don’t drink!" Fang Zhengzhi calmly pushed aside his half-empty wine cup. He then poured himself a cup of tea.

He remembered a common saying. On the table, never test your liquor with a lady.

Especially the ladies who could drink because these ladies could drink the whole table under.

Then, Fang Zhengzhi remembered Chi Guyan’s identity, Northern Lands’ Divine Constabulary. What is that place?

That was the Iron Blood Army Marquis’ noble family.

A woman raised in the Iron Blood Army Marquis’ noble family...

Alright.

Fang Zhengzhi suddenly realised he was still too naive. For Chi Guyan to drink, it naturally meant that she would not be intoxicated.

The officials and nobles that sat beside these two heard Fang Zhengzhi’s words and instantly rolled their eyes. From the start of the banquet to now, Fang Zhengzhi was drinking non-stop. Yet, here he was brazenly claiming that he did not drink?

Who would believe?

Just as they had this thought.

Chi Guyan once again spoke, "Mm, not drinking is not necessarily a bad thing."

Those few officials’ and nobles’ face immediately looked as if someone gave them two tight slaps. Chi Guyan actually believed him?

This scene with Chi Guyan and Fang Zhengzhi at the table was spotted of King Duan.

From the very beginning, he was observing Fang Zhengzhi’s actions. Especially when the nobles suggested to compete with poetry recitation and the exchange of couplets. His eyes never left Fang Zhengzhi from then.

However, Fang Zhengzhi was too calm. It was as if he gave no thoughts to all the voices around him.

"So his weakness is here!" King Duan’s eyes flashed for an instant.

He had been thinking of the upcoming Imperial Examinations the whole time. However, after interacting with Han Changfeng, he learnt of the situation of the Theory Examinations at the River of Trust Province.

Fang Zhengzhi’s theory results were outstanding.

Be it Tao Te Ching or set up of troop matrices. He could even recite the Law of Dao without a single word amiss.

On this point, even Han Changfeng had to admit. To remove Fang Zhengzhi using the Theory Examinations was almost impossible unless they bribe every invigilator in one go.

However, doing so would pose too great a risk. For just one Fang Zhengzhi, Han Changfeng was unwilling to take the risk and so was King Duan.

So...

The best plan was to rig the questions. Find Fang Zhengzhi’s Achilles’ Heel subject and increase the weightage of the questions on that subject.

In this way, even if Fang Zhengzhi could perform in other questions, he would still not be able to make it to the Theory Examinations first-class roll.

"Born in a mountain village... Naturally, he would not have the time to recite poetry or come up with couplets! Even if he thought about it... There would be no one to exchange with him right?" The more King Duan thought about this, the more probable this seemed.

At this point, a noble in a green silk robe walked towards Fang Zhengzhi’s side.

"I’ve heard that Young Master Fang was the Double Roll Champion in the Theory and Combat Examinations in examinations at the River of Trust Province. Today, I came to learn a thing or two from you!" As he said this, he prepared to open his mouth to construct a couplet for exchange.

The rest of the nobles saw this and all were waiting for a laugh as Fang Zhengzhi inevitably fumbles.

Fang Zhengzhi was currently keeping track of the number of cup of wine that Chi Guyan was drinking. He was quietly measuring her liquor threshold. He had no leftover interest to exchange couplets with this noble.

He simply waved his hand.

"Not free!"

The tone sounded like a senior chasing off a mischievous youngster.

The green silk robe noble’s face changed. Originally, he came here to use Fang Zhengzhi to highlight his own talents. There was no way he was giving up this easily.

When he tried to start once again, a voice came from the VIP seats.

"It is said that the second young master of the Tian Family, Tian Muyu was bestowed the beautiful title of " The Ingenious Hand for Couplets". Just now I heard Young Master Muyu effortlessly create a couplet as you opened your mouth. Do you mind if I have a bout with you?"

The Tian Muyu wearing his green silk robe turned and realised that the person was King Duan.

His whole persona immediately changed.

Having a couplet bout with King Duan?

Did he even dare to win?

Tian Muyu naturally did not dare but he could not reject either. Therefore, he could only brace himself for what was to come and gave King Duan a bow.

"Since King Duan has such refined interests, Tian Muyu is happy to oblige!"

Such a sight naturally attracted the attention of every guest in the hall.

Every official and noble’s heart was flipping out.

King Duan was obviously saving Fang Zhengzhi from disgrace. In other words, he’s purposely saving Fang Zhengzhi.

However, what was the purpose of this action?

No one understood.

However, that did not stop people from guessing.

For example, could he be under King Duan? Or was King Duan purposely had other sinister intentions for him but protect him in front of the Sacred Lord to remove suspicion?

Some even guessed that King Duan was taking advantage of Fang Zhengzhi’s relationship with Chi Guyan to pull her to his side.

The Sacred Lord did not bother with this matter.

However, the Crown Prince’s eyes shone with a knowing look. After all, the topic of Fang Zhengzhi was sensitive. Any matters related to him had more than meets the eye.

...

What happened next did not bode well for Tian Muyu.

As King Duan constructed three lines, he could barely stutter out one to complement them. In the end, he practically ran back to his seat.

"Slap!" A resounding slap landed on Tian Muyu face.

The hand that slapped him belonged to an official that looked rather frail, " Everyday I reminded you to revise and practice yet you only cared about making a mess outside. Aren’t you a joke today?"

He was obviously reprimanding Tian Muyu but it could also be seen as a way to protect him.

Tian Muyu immediately kneeled down and vowed to improve his ways and work harder.

The elder and a youngling act were not bad. That slap was solid. Afterwards, the old official turned to King Duan and profusely praised him and welcome King Duan to provide advice for the useless Tian Muyu.

King Duan simply waved his hand and did not say much. He returned to his drink and food, as if he did not just best Tian Muyu.

Protect Fang Zhengzhi?

Never in a million years. However, his planning was definitely meticulous. He did not wish for Fang Zhengzhi’s weakness to be exposed too early. If that was the case then people would be suspicious if he were to increase the weightage of couplet and poetry subjects in the upcoming Imperial Examinations.

Moreover, there were still a few days left before the examinations. Although it was not much time, he did not want Fang Zhengzhi to realise his weakness.

God knows if he would desperately learn from people the techniques of constructing couplets in the next few days.

King Duan did not forget. Fang Zhengzhi had the noble blood Yan Xiu by his side.

To annihilate someone, it was necessary to inflate their egos.

...

The birthday banquet ended on a high note. The officials made themselves known and the nobles showed off their talents. Everyone was satisfied and happy.

When the Sacred Lord took his leave, the Crown Prince and King Duan followed behind.

Fang Zhengzhi saw the Ping Yang that was purposefully blinking at him, he knew in his heart that was not a good sign. Of course, he knew that if he did not leave soon, it would probably be difficult to leave later on.

The Crown Prince and King Duan did not get far before Fang Zhengzhi followed behind in a flash.

This scene was coincidentally witnessed by those imperial officials

Everyone looked at one another, revealing a look of confoundment and speculation.

Especially Han Changfeng. His eyes stuck to the backs of King Duan and Fang Zhengzhi. Those orbs shimmered and flashed, his forehead creased into three deep gorges.

...

Eight days later, the Imperial Examinations that everyone was focused on commenced.